Shelbyville Eagle

07/21/2025

Jody Lynn Stevens, 68, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Shelbyville Manor.
A Celebration of Jody’s life will be held on Saturday July 26, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to Saving Orphaned Animals in Shelby County.
Jody was born on September 5, 1956, in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Edsil Earl and Wilma Louise (Vadakin) Stevens. She graduated from Findlay High School in the Class of 1974. Jody worked as a press operator at GSI in Assumption, IL, for over twenty years until her retirement. Jody enjoyed reading books, and listening to rock-n-roll music, her favorite being John Mellencamp. She also found joy in caring for her two parakeets, house plants, succulents and cacti.
Jody is survived by her son, Jobriath “Jobe” Michael Stevens of Findlay, IL; daughter, Cheyenne Dawn Robertson of Kansas; and three granddaughters, Lisa Stevens, Trinity Brown, and Tylee Harless.
She was preceded in death by her father, Edsil Stevens; mother, Wilma Plunkett; stepfather, LeRoy Plunkett; sister, Teresa K. Stevens; and her beloved dog, Billy Jack.
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07/17/2025

Michael Paul Cruit, 78, of rural Bethany died on July 16, 2025, in St. John’ s Hospital in Springfield following a series of strokes.
Graveside services will be held 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Locust Grove Cemetery, Pickaway Township, with Rev. Ron Dickinson officiating and military rites by the Clarence Bixler American Legion Post #409 of Findlay, IL. Arrangements by Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville.
Born September 13, 1946, in Shelbyville. He was the son of Thomas and Ruth Eileen (Parr) Cruit. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a graduate of Findlay High School and Southern Illinois University. He married Cherise Rose Sack August 19, 1972, in Deerfield, IL.
Mike was a farmer. He retired from Farm Credit Services, his off the farm job, in 2016. He was Todd’s Point Township Supervisor, member and past President of the Findlay Fire Protection District, Bethany Grain Coop board member, American Legion Clarence Bixler Post. Mike was a lifelong Methodist but attended Immaculate Conception Church with his wife and family.
Survivors include his wife; son, John (fiancé Anna) of Bethany; daughter, Emily (Steve) Zaegel of Manchester MO; beloved granddaughter, Isadora; sisters, Cheryl (Dan Kubitz) Roley, of Dubuque IA, Kimberly (Mike) Mueller of Benson, AZ; many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.
Mike loved going antiquing, attending auctions, but most of all being with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, brother-in-law, Mike Brichta and cousin, Van Cruit.
Memorials may be made to any Veterans organization of choice or the Findlay United Methodist Church.
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07/17/2025

William Joseph “Joe” Norfleet, 77, of Shelbyville, IL, went to be in the loving arms of Jesus at 12:03 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Haven of St. Elmo, IL.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the First Church of the Nazarene in Shelbyville, IL, with Pastor Bob Turner officiating. Burial with military rites by the Shelby County Honor Guard will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to the First Church of the Nazarene in Shelbyville. Arrangements are by Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL.
Joe was born on August 11, 1947, in Monticello, IL, the son of Hubert and Myrtle (Ferry) Norfleet. While in high school, Joe joined the United States Air Force and served during the Vietnam era. Joe enjoyed 42 years together with his partner, Paula Ann Ragan, until her passing on November 4, 2024. Joe worked construction for All Tri-R at ADM in Decatur, IL, for nearly 40 years. In his spare time, Joe could be found fishing, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with his grandchildren. His granddaughter, Bailey Duff, was the light of his life and was always there for him when he needed her most.
Joe is survived by his brother, Robert Norfleet of Shelbyville, IL; sister, Mary Jane Kern of Shelbyville, IL; one son; six grandchildren, including Bailey Duff of Cowden, IL; and one great granddaughter, Piper.
He was preceded in death by his parents; partner, Paula Ann Ragan; brothers, Jerry Lee Norfleet in infancy and Herbert E. Norfleet; and two grandchildren.
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07/16/2025

07/15/2025

Carolyn Alice Crutcher of Tower Hill, IL, passed away at 9:35 a.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025, in her home. She was 93.
Carolyn was born on June 4, 1932, to Orrel Herten and Blondell Williams Herten, at her maternal grandparents’ home in Shelbyville, IL. She was their only child. After her parents’ divorce, her childhood was divided by time spent in Chicago, Shelbyville, and Tower Hill.
Carolyn completed her schooling in Tower Hill and during this time met her future husband who she described as the rock of her life. They were 15 and 17 at the time. She graduated from Tower Hill High School in 1950 as the class Salutatorian. Just a few weeks later she married Ivan Crutcher on June 18, 1950. They were married 75 years. Their daughter Kimberly was born in 1957 and their son Marshall in 1961.
During Ivan’s two years in the Army, including 18 months in Austria, Carolyn rented an apartment in Pana, IL. and began working as a legal secretary for State Representative and Attorney at Law, Carl Preihs. She worked there until 1957 to start their family.
From childhood, Carolyn was a member of the Tower Hill United Methodist Church until its closure in June of 2019, then becoming a member of the Pana First United Methodist Church. Carolyn was an active member of the Tower Hill United Methodist Women providing yearly presentations to the group. For several years, she delivered meals to shut-ins through the Pana Community Hospital Meals on Wheels program.
She loved to garden and spent countless hours maintaining extensive beautiful flower beds throughout the yard. Many friends and family enjoyed receiving flower starts from her through the years. She enjoyed camping when the family was young and often hosted extended family dinners for special occasions. Family was always first. Carolyn was an avid reader of the Bible, history, archaeological finds, current events, and health and nutrition. She was a lifelong learner at heart.
Carolyn is survived by her husband Ivan, her daughter, Kimberly (Jay) McCracken of Ottawa, IL, son Marshall (Sherri) Crutcher of St. Louis, MO, two grandchildren; Megan (Brian) Rolfs of Normal, IL., Grant Crutcher of St. Louis, MO., and two great-grandsons: Gavin and Aiden Rolfs of Normal. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, half sister, Rita Kelley, one sister-in-law, Norma (Crutcher) Huddleston, two brothers-in-law, Ralph Crutcher, Elden “Charlie” Crutcher and very special cousin Donna Sherwood Wylder.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL with Rev. Jessica Baldyga officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in the Tower Hill Cemetery, Tower Hill, IL. Memorials may be made to The Nature Conservancy or Tower Hill First Responders.
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07/15/2025

John Otis Stewardson, 77, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, July 10, 2025, at HSHS St. Anthony Hospital, Effingham, IL.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Glenwood Cemetery, Shel-byville, IL, with Jason Palmer officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Arrangements are by Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to Saving Orphaned Animals and mailed to Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, 415 North Broadway, Shelbyville, IL 62565.

John was born on December 2, 1947, in Shelbyville, IL, the son of Lane and Vera Lillian (Oakley) Stewardson. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in the Class of 1966 and attended Southern Illi-nois University in Carbondale, IL, where he graduated with honors. John was a proud Army Airborne vet-eran. He began serving in October of 1968 and was honorably discharged in October of 1970 with the rank of SP4. John helped his community in Carbondale through the SIU-C radio station, co-op community gar-den, food pantry, and felt called to help veterans return to society. He worked in a governmental non-profit agency to assist people with weatherizing their homes. John had a passion for motorcycles and motorcross racing. He loved his dog, Mocha, whom he adopted from Saving Orphaned Animals. John’s love for ani-mals was evident through his recent sponsoring of the Forest Bark dog park in Shelbyville.

John is survived by his siblings Jennifer Harvey and husband Jack of Shelbyville, IL, Wanda Brooks of Shelbyville, IL, Paul Stewardson and wife Marla of Shelbyville, IL, and Sara Blackwell and husband Dave of Eugene, OR; nine nieces and nephews; and nine great nieces and nephews. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lane and Vera Stewardson; brother, Ray Stewardson; and beloved dog, Sugar.

John’s family would like to thank Pinnacle Providers In-Home Care, LLC, Villas of Holly Brook, HSHS Hospice, St. Anthony’s Hospital, and the Shelby County Honor Guard.

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07/15/2025

Teresa Kay Stevens, 67, of Findlay, IL, died Wednesday night on July 9, 2025, in Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL.
A Celebration of Teresa’s Life will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m., in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to Peace Meal Senior Nutrition Program in Shelbyville, IL and mailed to Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, 415 N. Broadway, Shelbyville, IL 62565.
Teresa was born May 8, 1958, in Rockford, IL, to parents Edsil Earl and Wilma Louise (Vadakin) Stevens. She graduated from Findlay High School in 1976 and started working on her accounting degree at Sparks College in Shelbyville. Later, she took classes and became a licensed CNA. She worked many jobs throughout her life. Several years ago, she worked in Shelbyville at Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken, International Paper, Eagle Creek Resort, and was a CNA at various nursing homes. She enjoyed watching true crime TV shows, learning about family history from her nephew, dancing, reading (especially Stephen King horror novels), spending time down at the campground by the river, collecting unicorns, collecting lighthouse pictures, and listening to the music of Bob Seger, on whom she had a big crush. She always wanted to visit Maine. Some of her last words were saying that she was ready to go home and be with Jesus, and that the best thing that she did was loving her kids.
Preceding her in death were her father, Edsil Stevens; mother, Wilma Plunkett; and her beloved stepfather, LeRoy Plunkett.
She is survived by her children, Jenny Carr (Wally), Robert Price, and Jesse Gatons; sisters, Jody Stevens and Lorrie Welton (Leroy); grandchildren, Simon Carr (Maranda), Max Carr, Lari Carr, Lorraina Keller, Jenna Keller, and Sarah Keller; nephew and nieces, Jobe Stevens, Lisa Stevens, and Cheyenne; and aunts and uncle, Linda Hartman and Gene Vadakin (Susan).
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07/07/2025

Mary Ann Hoback, 77, of Forsyth, IL, passed away at 8:15 a.m. Saturday, July 5, 2025, in her residence.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2025, in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Friends and family are invited to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Friday at Howe & Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville to go in procession to the cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Shelbyville Area Community Foundation.
Mary Ann was born on December 23, 1947, in Clinton, IL, the daughter of Ollie Elgon and Mona Catherine (Arnold) Highland. Mary Ann grew up in Clinton and attended Clinton High School. She married Merle Hoback on December 21, 1964, and they had two children, Stan and Teresa. Mary Ann worked at Warrensburg-Latham Schools as a playground supervisor and later worked for the United States Postal Service in Decatur and Forsyth until her retirement. Mary Ann was an excellent baker and will be remembered for her pies and cakes. She enjoyed traveling, taking trips, and camping at C**n Creek on Lake Shelbyville.
Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 60 years, Merle; son, Stan Hoback of Palm Bay, FL; grandson, Matthew Hoback (Justin) of Maroa, IL; brothers-in-law, David Hoback (Georgia Anne Hoggatt), Jack Hoback (Christine), and Allen Hoback; sisters-in-law, Gerry, Mary, Evelyn, Alice, and Dorothy; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Teresa Doty (Lynn), sister, Connie Malone; brothers-in-law, Leo Hoback and Russell Hoback; and sister-in-law, Edith Crum.
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